Phalaenopsis Orchid Plant Named &#39;HAPPY HOUR&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Happy Hour’ particularly characterized by flowers which are purple/violet with red/purple marks; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED:

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION:

‘Happy Hour’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Happy Hour’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Happy Hour’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Happy Hour’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2001 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Yu Pin Burgundy’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Golden Buddha’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Happy Hour’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2009 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in November, 2009 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Happy Hour’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are purple/violet with red/purple marks;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Happy Hour’, the female parent ‘Yu Pin Burgundy’ is purple with dark purple marks/spots and a purple labellum, the male parent ‘Golden Buddha’ is yellow/green with purple spots/stripes, whereas the flowers of ‘Happy Hour’ are purple/violet with red/purple marks.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Happy Hour’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘212918’ (unpatented). The flowers of ‘212918’ are red/purple with purple/violet and white on the edges, whereas the flowers of ‘Happy Hour’ are purple/violet with red/purple marks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Happy Hour’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Happy Hour’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Happy Hour’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Happy Hour’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Happy Hour’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Happy Hour’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Happy Hour’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Happy Hour’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Happy Hour’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Happy Hour’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Happy Hour’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Happy Hour’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Yu             Pin Burgundy’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Golden Buddha’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3mm-6             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190A and RHS 190D);             freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in             tissue culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 50 cm Spread: about 60 cm.         -   Growth habit.—small; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-4 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 -8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—none.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 20 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 9 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (RHS 137B).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS N137A) Under side: green (RHS 137C). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 4.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 15-35.         -   Length.—about 45 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Diameter: about 3 mm Strength: strong Aspect:             upright Texture: glabrous and smooth Color: green (RHS 137A)             with brown (RHS 200A) Internode: Length: about 27 mm.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 mm Diameter (at             midpoint): about 16 mm Shape: oval/egg-shaped with a bump on             one side Color: purple (RHS N79C) with a yellow/green haze             (RHS 145C) Orientation: same as flowers (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-4             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis, see FIG. 2 Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 50 mm Diameter: about 55 mm Quantity and arrangement:             three petals and three sepals that are trimerous,             overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more             pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate, little triangular and weakly cupped             Apex: oval Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base: broadly             ovate Length: about 28 mm Width: about 27 mm Texture: Upper             surface: smooth and satiny Under surface: smooth and satiny             Color (when fully opened): upper side: purple/violet (some             RHS N80A, some RHS N80B and some RHS N80C) with a little             white (RHS N155D) and red/purple spots and marks (RHS N79B             and RHS N79C). Under side: purple (RHS 75B) with red/purple             haze (RHS 70B). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2             prominent callosities at central junction of the lateral             lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum             fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends forward             and is terminated by 2 stubs appendages at the apex. Lateral             lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe             is triangular with a bump and a rib on it Margin: entire and             weakly undulate Apex: oval Length: about 20 mm Width (not             flattened): about 19 mm Depth of tube created by lateral             lobes of labellum: about 12 mm Texture: Upper & under             surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Mid             lobe, upper side: purple (RHS N79A and RHS N79B). Under             side: from base to tip purple (RHS N79C) and in the corners             RHS N79B). Lateral lobes, upper side: at the base red/purple             (RHS 59B) with some purple (RHS N79A). A little white (RHS             N155B) and the rest of the lobe is purple/violet (RHS N81A).             Under side: at the base grey/purple (RHS N187D) which runs             into purple/violet (RHS N81A). Cirrhi: about 3 mm color:             purple/violet (RHS N81A); tips are white (RHS NN155C) Pestle             (Callosities): Length: about 5 mm Width (not flattened):             about 4 mm Color: purple (RHS N77A), sides are white (RHS             NN155B). At the front little yellow spot (RHS 4A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped Margin: entire and weakly undulate Length:             about 28 mm Width: about 20 mm Apex: oval, little pointy             Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny Color             (when fully opened): Upper side, dorsal: purple/violet (some             RHS N80A, some RHS N80B and some RHS N80C) with a little             white at the edges (RHS N155D) and red/purple spots and             marks (RHS N79B and RHS N79C). Lateral: purple/violet (some             RHS N80A, some RHS N80B and some RHS N80C) with white (RHS             NN155C and RHS NN155B) and red/purple spots and marks (RHS             N79B and RHS N79C). Under side, dorsal: purple (RHS 77B)             with at the top some red/purple (RHS 72A). Lateral: purple             (RHS 77C) with at the base a haze of greyed/green (RHS 196A)             and at the top purple (RHS N78A).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 27 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Texture:             glabrous and smooth Color: at the flower purple (RHS N78C)             which runs into greyed/green (RHS 195A) and purple (RHS N79A             and RHS 79B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 7 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Color:             purple/violet (RHS N81A).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 1 mm Color:             yellow/orange (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 4 mm Diameter: about 5 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155D) with purple/violet (RHS N81A). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Happy Hour’, as illustrated and described herein. 